Not Safe

This morning while reading the news, I came across a distressing story. It shocked me and I let out a big "sigh" at the pain that I knew the people I was reading about were going through. Immediately my two year old, carrying her baby-doll under her left arm, climbed up into the breakfast nook next to me, leaned her head on my shoulder, put her right arm around me and gently patted my back. She did this because she was viewing me as in need of comfort. We are a very affectionate family, and we often show each this with such expressions. She saw this as a perfectly natural behavior. Her view of me and our home determined her behavior.

Similarly, the way that we view God will have a great impact on our actions. Our view of God depends on many things, but there are far more things that depend on our view of God. I am not speaking about having everyone study until they are a theologian who can defend the faith against the most skilled atheists. I am merely saying that your understanding of the person of God will influence numerous things in your life. Do you think of God as an all powerful version of Santa Claus? Is He primarily a Judge Who is trying to keep you from being happy? Or, maybe you think of Him as somewhat similar to the mysterious uncle that everyone was nervous around and no one really felt comfortable talking to?

Today, many people, Christians included, think of God in terms of a somewhat generic "mushy deity". He has little substance and is rarely feared. People are shocked when someone mentions anything about Him actually bringing about a serious Judgment (!). A long time ago when someone was referred to as a "God-fearing man" it was a compliment; it is rare that anyone is described that way anymore. This was not supposed to refer to someone who was terrified of God, but rather someone who knew how awesome and powerful God is, and thus had a healthy respect for Him.

C.S. Lewis, in his description of Aslan the Lion, gives us a revelation about the character of God that is vital in today's day and age. If you have not read the Chronicles of Narnia, then you must do so (regardless of your age), but please avoid Hollywood's ruination of Lewis' stories (they have no idea what Lewis was writing about). When the Pevensie children are asking Mr. and Mrs. Beaver about Aslan, Susan asks "is he--quite safe?" The answer is worthy of committing to memory: "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." He's not safe, but he's good. Later we learn that Aslan is not "tame", and yet we are shown in a wonderful way that he is truly good; good beyond our expectations.

Modern Christianity has a tame view of God, and this is causing serious harm to the souls of many of God's people. Jesus is not "tame" nor is it right to think of Him as "safe". He is not to be toyed with, nor is He to be treated like he will merely sit back and ignore rebellion. I have met Christians who treat God like a small puppy that is to be patted on the head (and sent to the garage when he is annoying). This may be the god that people would like to worship (the lower case "g" is intentional), but it is not the God Who created Heaven and Earth. Jesus Christ is not a god who can be controlled. He, like a lion, is dangerous when He is not respected. He defends His own, and does not ignore those who disobey Him (Acts 17:30-31).

Is the God that you worship "safe"? Does He ever say anything that offends you? Does He tell you to stop that sin that you have repeatedly returned to for years? Does your view of God exclude mean things like condemning sin? Do you dislike any references to the depth of your sin and the punishment that it deserves? Are you annoyed at the doctrine of Judgment Day? Would you rather ignore all these "un-nice" things? If this is the case then I call you to consider the possibility that you have tamed God (in your mind) and then to repent of it.

I am not encouraging Christians to be cowering in fear expecting God to reach down and smack them for every little infraction. Yet, there is a grave problem in the Church today when the only perceived alternative to a pusillanimous God is a tight-fisted grouch. This is why Lewis' description does not leave us at "not safe". For Aslan, as an image of the Lord Jesus Christ, is described as "good". The devil is not safe, but he is evil. If Jesus were safe, then He would not be good, for then He would be weak like His creatures. It is this very characteristic of being "unsafe" that makes His "goodness" so wonderful, and encouraging. He is good to those who are penitent and seek to worship Him as He commands, and the fact that He is good is what makes us able to trust Him to do what is right in all things.